KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) slammed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) attempt to silence Twitter users critical of the government’s flood relief efforts.
In a statement, the coalition’s presidential council called MCMC anti-democratic for trying to remove certain tweets from the social media platform.
“It reminds us of the character of an iron-fisted dictator Malaysians have seen before,” it said without mentioning any names, although it is believed to be referring to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“We should not and cannot return to that time, especially when the country is planning a future centred on digitalisation and information technology that is more transparent.”
The presidential council said the criticism hurled at the federal government by the public is due to its own failure in acting accordingly as the flood devastated large parts of the country, killing dozens and affecting thousands others.
It urged the government to act more swiftly and to provide better financial assistance than what is already provided by the states.
“The government’s failure has resulted in criticisms on social media, particularly of ministers deemed weak in their response and rescue of victims, to the point they are being labelled ‘flood tourists’.
“Following these criticisms, the government not only failed to increase their service, but instead attempted to punish and silence the rakyat.”
Several users have revealed that MCMC had asked Twitter to remove certain tweets critical of the government’s handling of the floods that started on Saturday.
Emails have been sent out by Twitter informing the respective users of the planned action by the government, but also saying that it has rejected MCMC’s request.
On Thursday, MCMC issued a statement saying that while it respects platform providers like Twitter, it has to enforce compliance with provisions of local laws, for the sake of national interest.
The agency has also made reports to Twitter about offensive hashtags used by netizens.
The PH presidential council also questioned how tweets critical of flood relief efforts could be construed as threatening national security, and expressed regret over how the commission is being used by the government to silence the people.
“The government and MCMC must be reminded that the rakyat has the right to voice out, especially on pressing issues like cost of living, disasters, or flaws within the leadership in Putrajaya.
“As such, we urge the chairman and the chief executive officer of MCMC to be dropped with immediate effect,” it said. – The Vibes, December 25, 2021
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